Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-07-13
The Administrations Attack on
the Grand Army.

Several administration journals have
lately contained attacks upon the Grand
Army. The organization has not only
been accused OF "unbecoming conduct
in regard to the St. Louis affair but also of
''inflicting abuse and insult upon the Chief
Executive of the nation" Every variety
of insnuation and malignant Justification
has been hurled at it and every possible
chance for misrepresentation has been i'm
proved. The latest attack against the
organization has been made by the N. I.
Evening Post. paper Just at present oc-
cupying strange position, but passing as
the mugwump administration organ IN
that city. Speaking of the St. Louis and
the Battle-Fiag affairs it says
The result OF all this is that the public is
coming to understand the real character OF
the organization. 1t Is no longer benevo-
lent institution working for unselish ends 1t
has become machine for the procuring OF
pensions and offices. 1t is easy to see how
this has come about. The whole mem
bership OF the organic iton, which Is
now placed at 100000, is not much
more than one fourth of the whole number OF
surviving Union soldiers. TAis one fourth
includes almost all the self seekers, the men
who were only tempted into the army BY high
bounties, and the men who are always trying
to trade upon their services in the war. Any
one who Investigates the matter will find ia At
large proportion of the better sort of veter-
ans either do not belong to the Grand Army
or hold aloof from an active share in its pro-
ceedings since they have found what infu-
ences dominate it. The best PROOF OF this Is
the support of futile by the Iowa Posts.
Soldiers who deserved the respect of their
fellow citizens would be quick to repudiate
such unmsnly talk as ruttles, instead OF com
meuding it.
Fortuna ely, the danger of serious harm
from the Grand Army has been removed by
the exposure which it has thus made of its
character. 1t itwere universally supposed to
be an association of Old soldiers devoted IN
selfshly to the public interests, its weight
might be thrown with tremendous force for or
against any measure or any man But when
il is seen to be an organza alton chief, con
cerned in eXtorting undeserved offices and
pensions for unworthy members, its endorse
ment or its condemnation is of little moment.
No body of men can present futile or a
Fsirchild as its perfect flower and long retain
htlt CuiHuShtt VI tiic AttuSiithh ECpPiS'
This from mugwump paper,-a paper
supported by heightened, better-than-
any body else, patriotic citizens of
this country. If such are its sem
timeuts the veterans of the Grand
Army can easily see that they have
never had any meaner or bitterer foes than
they now have in these same mugwumps
and the administration. Were it possible
it would be pleasant TO think that this
great and learned paper spoke through
ignorance. of the organization, but that is
not to be considered. But it wiltully and
falsely states whatit knows is not so. Every
citizen living in the smallest village in
which there is post OF this organization
knows that such accusations against
its character are false. The Posts computa-
ton of membership also incorrect, while
the statements concerning its individual
composition is basely insulting. For upon
its rolls are found the names of Sherman,
Sheridan, Terry. Howard, Miles, Gibbon,
Porter, Levett. Howley. Harrison. Thomas,
Kennedy, Mckinley, Sickles and Slocum
and hundreds of others against whom
such accusations cannot be made without
disgrace to the accuser. But why does
this organ with others thus attack the
Grand Army. Read the last paragraph of
the quotation. In 1t can be traced an
attempt to destroy the organization and
this is the first step in the scaeme-to mis-
represent the organization and bring to
contempt the men who compose it.
Whether this scheme was planned before
the St. Louis and Battle-Flag controver-
sizes arose or not. is difficult to ascertain,
but they lead to the suspicion that they
formed factors of the same. but were SO
poorly managed as to deserve the name OF
blunders. For instead of isolating the
grand army and drowning it in public
contempt, the whole people rose in mighty